Device for training a sequence of movements

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device ( 10 ) for training a sequence of movements for ball hitting implements ( 18 ), especially golf clubs and baseball bats, which makes it possible to monitor the observance of the correct sequence of movements ( 20 ) with the implement by means of a monitoring device ( 20 ) acting upon the implement ( 18 ) and the user. Said device makes it possible for the individual user to be in a position to check whether a sequence of movements is being correctly performed while he or she is executing said sequence of movements and to correct it if necessary.

[0001] The invention relates to a device for training a sequence ofmovements for ball-hitting implements, especially golf clubs or baseballbats according to the organization of the features of the preamble ofclaim 1.

[0002] In the types of sports in which ball-hitting implements are used,for example golf, in general a complex sequence of movements will beencountered in using these implements. In these types of sports,learning, practicing and monitoring these sequences of movements posesproblems for beginners, to whom by incorrect execution of thecorresponding movements and by only inadequate correction of theseerrors rapid progress and the associated sense of achievement remainelusive. Even in players who play these types of sports professionally,the pertinent monitoring of sequences of movements is regarded as anindispensable prerequisite for good play.

[0003] Therefore, in the past for purposes of checking the sequence ofhis movements it has been necessary for a player to enlist anotherindividual to watch and correct him or to use complex video technologywhich allows him to examine the execution of his movements subsequently.These measures, whether time with a coach or use of video cameras, isexpensive for the player and if at all is not always available to him atthe desired time. It is furthermore disadvantageous here that whensubsequently viewing the recorded video material the respective playerdoes not have the opportunity to directly correct errors in the sequenceof his movements and in particular he does not receive any feedback(biofeedback) about his errors.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,901 discloses a golf training device whichcan be fixed to the upper body of the user by way of a chest harness.The device itself has two telescoping sleeve parts which are held to beable to travel lengthwise into one another, the one telescoping parttouching the chest harness and the other telescoping part the grip ofthe golf club. As a result of the rigid arrangement of theaforementioned telescoping parts which can travel lengthwise into oneanother and as a result of fixing the training device by way of theindicated chest harness, the golf-playing user is also greatly hamperedin his play during training so that the approach in this respect is lessfeasible for practical applications.

[0005] U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,861,688 and 5,108,103 disclose golf trainingdevices with acoustic feedback, the training device being attachedespecially to the wrist of the golfer and to the golf club itself in thevicinity of the grip. An elastic resettable connecting part between thewrist and the golf club monitors the centrifugal force situation duringthe sequence of movements and when the sequence is not ideal, the golferreceives a corresponding error or correction report via an acousticsignal. Since with these devices essentially only correct monitoring ofthe hand position during the course of the stroke is guaranteed,mispositioning of other body parts, especially with regard to armposture during the golf stroke, remains ignored. Accordingly, with theseknown devices it is not ensured that the entire sequence of movementsduring the golf swing is practiced correctly in order to master theentire sequence of movements in this way.

[0006] GB-A-988 796 and GB-A-2 336 787 disclose establishing aconnection between a golf glove or the club grip and the shoulder or theupper arm of a golfer by way of bands and loops which are designed tocapture the centrifugal forces accordingly during the swing and in thisway deliver feedback about the correct sequence of movements to theuser. In a golf training device as claimed in GB-A-2 336 787 onlyone-hand training motion is possible, in which the other hand is keptstationary by the user on the upper body. For the training device whichtouches the shoulder as claimed in GB-A-988 796, by way of a resettableforce means another band is placed under the opposite shoulder of theother arm of the user so that during the stroke motion the shoulder bandcannot unintentionally slip down. Furthermore, in this way it ispossible with the known training device to carry a golf bag or the likesupported by the shoulders of the user; in particular this mitigatestiresome carrying on longer golf courses. It has been found that thetraining effect with these known devices is likewise rather small and ifonly one hand or one arm is correctly trained for a sequence ofmovements, this does not apply to the sequence of movements with the twostroking hands of a user, as experience indicates.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,926 discloses a golf training device whichengages between the wrist and the upper arm of the user. Fixingpossibilities in this regard are closing bands between which thereextend two telescoping sleeve parts which fit into one another with alengthwise travel capacity on their facing ends. The telescoping partfacing the wrist has a slotted guide and the other telescoping part onits outside periphery has a fixing aid with a movable chain; this makesit possible to monitor the bending motion of the arms during the strokesuch that overbending cannot occur, since such an unintentional motionis intercepted by the chain of one telescoping part which then fits intothe slotted part of the other telescoping part in an obstructing manner.Here, too, a certain pattern of movement can only be partiallymonitored, specifically any overbending of the arm posture during thesequence of movements so that the entire sequence of movements during agolf swing cannot be properly monitored and trained in this way.

[0008] Based on this prior art, the object of the invention is to makeavailable to a player a simple and economical aid for being able todirectly note and correct errors in the sequence of his movements whenhitting the ball without being reliant on the assistance of thirdparties or on complex video recording technology. The object in thisrespect is achieved by a device with the features of claim 1 in itsentirety.

[0009] By virtue of the fact that according to the features of thecharacterizing part of claim 1, the monitoring means has at least twocomponent parts which can be detached from one another and whichinteract with one another by a force means such that at least at thestart and end of the sequence of movements the detachment of thecomponent parts is obstructed or their joining takes place in anaccelerated manner, the force means in this regard opposes thecentrifugal force during the swinging motion with the ball-hittingimplement, both the detachment of the component parts and also the laterjoining delivering an acoustic signal to the user, in order to reliablyindicate to him at least the start and end of the sequence of movements.At least in the preparation of the hitting phase in which theball-hitting implement hits the ball, for a correctly maintainedsequence of movements the centrifugal forces are so great that a visibleand perceptible separation of the component parts takes place afterpassing through the obstruction in order to provide the user, in thesense of biofeedback or feedback, with a monitoring possibility forcorrectly passing through the desired movement. Especially in thecritical transition area between the actual starting phase of the strokeand the later hitting phase the monitoring means is in action anddelivers the required feedback for the desired correct sequence ofmovements.

[0010] The device as claimed in the invention is fixed on the one handon the hitting implement, preferably in the area of the transitionbetween the other part of the implement and the grip of the implement,and on the other on the upper arm of the user, preferably in the areaabove the elbow joint, for righthanders the upper left arm, and forlefthanders preferably the upper right arm. While carrying out theactual swinging motion for producing the ball-hitting force then thecentrifugal forces which occur in the system of the implement, the userand the device are used to trigger the monitoring means which, dependingon its respective system state, then in turn relays feedback to the userwho evaluates the pertinent feedback such that he learns the correctsequence of movements with the ball-hitting implement.

[0011] In one especially preferred embodiment of the device as claimedin the invention, the force which has been applied by the force meanstries to keep the component parts permanently in contact with oneanother and the amount of force can be preset by an adjustment means.The adjustment means makes it possible, within definable limits, toadapt the device to the biophysical circumstances of the respective userso that the device can be used for children, adolescents and also adultseven without major changes of a structural type.

[0012] In another especially preferred embodiment of the device asclaimed in the invention, the component parts in each of their relativepositions to one another are joined to one another by way of aconnecting means which as part of the force means applies a reset forceto the component parts. In this way it is ensured that in the area ofthe end phase or the so-called finish in which the hitting phase endsafter hitting the ball, the monitoring means again assumes its originalsystem state in which the component parts adjoin one another to obstructthe travel through a following sequence of movements again. Theindicated reset force in the so-called finish range results in that thetwo component parts of the monitoring means are audibly brought togetherin order to notify the user acoustically of the end of the swingingmotion. The device is then available to the user to be used again.

[0013] Other advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of thedependent claims.

[0014] The device as claimed in the invention is discussed in greaterdetail in what follows with reference to the drawings. They areschematic and not drawn to scale.

[0015]FIGS. 1a, b, c and d show in snapshots the position of anindividual practicing with a ball-hitting implement in the form of agolf club divided into different phases of movement;

[0016]FIG. 2 shows the device affixed to a golf club with a monitoringmeans;

[0017]FIG. 3 shows in the manner of an exploded diagram a perspectiveview of the parts of the monitoring means as shown in FIG. 2;

[0018]FIG. 4 shows a center lengthwise section through each of the twocomponent parts as shown in FIG. 3;

[0019]FIG. 5 shows an enlarged representation of the extract circledesignated “X” as shown in FIG. 4;

[0020]FIG. 6 shows in the manner of an exploded diagram enlarged afixing clamp as it is shown in FIG. 2 designated in the extract as “Y”.

[0021] The device shown in the figures is to be used especially for golfclubs. But it is easily possible to use these devices for other types ofball-hitting implements, for example for baseball bats and tennisrackets.

[0022] The views shown in FIGS. 1a to d show several snapshots in theexecution of a ball-hitting movement, in which the device 10 with itstwo ends 12, 14 is fixed on a body part in the form of the upper arm 16of the user and on the club 18. The sequence of movements which is shownin FIGS. 1a to d for a right-hander can of course also be carried outfor left-handers with the corresponding requisite changes. FIG. 1a showsthe user with the club 18 after executing the drawback phase withbackswing at the start of the so-called downswing, here the pivot of theclub motion being in the vicinity of the shoulder of the user. In thecourse of the follow through the left arm is extended when the sequenceof movements is correct. The initiation of just this movement issignaled to the user by the monitoring means 20 with the two componentspieces 22, 24 moving apart with an audible metallic sound as themagnetic force which acts between them is overcome. FIG. 1b shows theuser with the club 18 when using a superimposed second rotary motion,when within the follow through movement the hands of the user areroughly at hip height. In this rotary motion the club 10 is moved arounda pivot in the wrists of the user. The sequence of movements in thisrespect corresponds to what is shown in FIG. 1c. By joining thecomponent parts 22, 24 by way of a connecting means 26 which applies areset force to the component parts 22, 24, as shown in FIG. 1d, afterthe user has hit the ball and followed through with the club in sequencein front of the body, the component parts are again brought together inthe so-called finish (end phase). The two component parts 22, 24 beingbrought together is again linked to a perceptible metallic clicking asan acoustic signal as soon as they make contact with one another. Theabove-described sequence of movements basically has a model-like naturein order to illustrate the fundamental relationships. It is clear thatespecially also in professional sports there are conventionallydeviations from the described sequence of movements; however this isimmaterial for the use of the training device which is controlled bycentrifugal force as claimed in the invention.

[0023]FIG. 2 shows the device 10 in its entirety fixed on the golf club18 (shown only partially). Proceeding from the first end 12 which isfixed on the upper arm of the user it first of all has as the fixingmeans 28 an adhesive fastener band 30 with a rectangular eye 32 ofplastic material attached to its one end. The free end 34 of theadhesive fastener band 30 is inserted through this eye and returns afterencompassing the upper arm and is pulled back so that the adhesivefastener means 38 attached to the outside periphery 36 of the adhesivefastener band 30 come to rest one top of one another such that the freeend 34 is fixed. Furthermore, the ends of a cloth strip 40 which forms aloop are attached to the outside periphery 36 of the adhesive fastenerband 30 and a metal eye 40 is attached to another loop 42 of the clothstrip. This eye is used for lengthwise adjustment of the cloth strip 40,its being inserted past a tongue-like cross brace 46 of the eye 44; thisprevents the strip 40 from slipping through. This enables matching ofthe device to the conditions of the body of the user.

[0024] Furthermore, the cloth strip 40 passes through a U-shaped metalholder 48 which is pulled on it and on which a spring hook 50 with aleaf spring closure 52 is pivotally supported. The spring hook 50 herefits through a metal clip 54 with two open ends 56 which are attached tothe opposing points of the outside periphery of a metal truncated hollowcone 58. The latter can be fixed, after it has been turned over the endpiece 60 of the base body 62 of the component part 22 of the monitoringmeans 20, by means of two metal cotter pins 64 which have been drivenlying opposite perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the truncatedhollow cone 58 through openings 66. On the part of the base body 62,these cotter pins 64 slide in a peripheral groove 68, which isespecially apparent in FIGS. 4 and 5, a peripheral projection 70preventing the truncated hollow cone 58 from being withdrawn from thebase body 62.

[0025] The two component parts 22 and 24, with base bodies 62 and 72which are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, are joined to one another by theconnecting means 26 as part of a force means which is designated 73 as awhole, in the manner of an elastic cord 74 which is guided through thecylindrical recesses 76 of the component parts 22, 24, which recessesare located along the lengthwise axis, and is attached by fixing means78. There is a metal ring 80 on one piece of the same cross section ofthe base bodies 62, 72 which consists of laminated plastic, with a crosssection which tapers in the direction to their outer ends. In the areaof the tapering cross sections the base bodies 62, 72 in addition haverecesses 82 spaced uniformly over the periphery, with bottoms 84 whicheach have the same distance to the lengthwise axes 86 of the componentparts, so that a rib structure is formed which runs into the solid endpieces 60. The rib structure yields a weight reduction which facilitateshandling for the conical component parts 22, 24.

[0026] For the component part 22 the assigned metal ring 80 on its sidefacing the base body 62 has an end piece 88 with a tapering crosssection, as can also be seen in FIG. 3. An outside thread 92 which isprovided on the outside periphery 90 of this tapered cross section isused for screwing to an inside thread 96 which is provided in thecylindrical recess 94 in the base body 62. A thrust piece 100 which isembedded spring-loaded in the bottom 98 of the recess when the base body62 is screwed with the assigned metal ring 80 with its hemisphericalhead 102 fits into the conical recesses 104 which are provided on theside of the tapered cross section of the metal ring 80, which side facesthe bottom 98 of the recess. These recesses are located diametrically tothe lengthwise axis 86 of the component parts by an angular amount whichis the same in each case.

[0027] A ring magnet 106 as another primary part of the force means 73,with the same cylinder axis is countersunk into the metal ring 80 whichis attached to the base body 72 and which is assigned to the componentpart 24, and it applies an attractive force to the other metal ring 80which is assigned to the component part 22. On the component part 24, acylindrical plastic piece 108 which projects in the direction of theother component part 22 out of the base body 72 along the lengthwiseaxis 86 of the component parts, with a conical end piece 110 whichtogether with a recess 112 represent a guide means 113, is partiallysurrounded peripherally by the metal ring 80 and the magnet 106. Thepart of the plastic piece 108 which projects beyond the metal ring 80with the magnet 106 along the lengthwise axis 86 of the component partwhen the component parts 22 and 24 are brought together then grips thecylindrical recess 112 of another metal ring 80 which is assigned to thecomponent part 22 and which as part of the force means 73 with the firstmetal ring 80 interacts with the ring magnet 106, which recess runsalong the lengthwise axis 86 of the component part. The ring surface 114of the conical end piece 110, which surface faces the component part 22,in this type of passage is in contact with the bottom 98 of thecylindrical recess 94 in the base body 62 before the outside thread 92of the metal ring 80 engages the inside thread 96 of the base body 62,such that they adjoin one another flat with the facing ring surfaces116, 118 of the metal ring 80 or of the base body 62. In a furtherscrewing-in process in which the two threads 92, 96 are moved bytwisting the base body 62 against the assigned metal ring 80, the secondbase body 72 is supported on the first base body 62 and the twocomponent parts 22, 24 are located against one another, spaced apart.Together with the thrust piece 100 which projects out of the recessbottom 90 into the respectively assigned conical recess 104, in this wayin the manner of a ratchet approach definable adjustment of the magneticforce which holds the two component parts 22, 24 together is possible.The ratchet approach results in that the magnetic force, once set, doesnot change unintentionally during operation of the device 10 and in thisway could adversely affect the operation of the device 10. The device 10can be matched to the special user conditions, especially with respectto body sizes and body forces present at the time, by way of thedescribed magnetic force adjustment means 120.

[0028] The end 14 of the component part 24 facing the club 18 likewisehas, as in the component part 22, a truncated hollow cone 58 which isguided on the end piece 60 by means of metal cotter pins 64 in aperipheral groove 68, with a metal clip 54 fixed on it. A steel ring 122reaches through this metal clip and moreover extends through roundopenings 124, 126 on two clamp sheets 128, 130 of a fixing clamp 132, asis shown in FIG. 6. This fixing clamp 132 is used to fix the device 10on the club 18. For this purpose, the two clamp sheets 128, 130 withtheir inner base surfaces 134 are placed on one another such that acylindrical screw piece 136 which projects vertically from the innerbase surface 134 of the first clamp sheet 128 extends with the threadthrough another recess 138 of the second clamp sheet 130 so that the twoclamp sheets 128, 130 can be detachably fixed on one another using alock nut 140 as the circular openings 124, 126 lie on top of oneanother. The side surface 142 of the clamp sheet 130 adjoining theprojection 144 which projects over the side surface of the clamp sheet128 thus additionally prevents the two clamp sheets 128, 130 fromsliding off one another. On the side of the clamp sheets 128, 130 facingthe club 18 they are provided with equal-sided angle pieces 146 whichproject at an angle of 45° and which moreover each include an angle of90° such that when the clamp sheets 128, 130 lie on one another theangle pieces enclose a cavity with a square base surface which isdesigned to hold a piece of the club 18. To prevent damage or stick onthe club 18, the angle pieces 146 moreover have rubber cushions 150which cover their entire inner surfaces 148.

[0029] For purposes of illustration, the manner of action of the device10 from FIGS. 2 and 3 during the various phases of the sequence ofmovements shown in FIGS. 1a to 1 d is detailed. There, a device 10 asclaimed in the claims is fixed on the club 18 and on the upper arm 16 ofa right-handed user, adapted by means of the ratchet approach to hisphysical conditions. In the ratchet approach the component parts 22, 24are spaced apart from one another in definable increments by theadjustment means 120. Twisting of the base body 62 of the component part22 against the metal ring 80 which is assigned to it causes a change ofthe distance between the metal rings 80. The associated change of theforce which acts between the component parts 22, 24 allows the user toadapt to his individual circumstances.

[0030] In FIG. 1a this user is in the initial phase of the sequence ofmovements and after the drawback motion with the club 18 executes afirst type of lever motion of his arm around the left shoulder area,during which the monitoring means 20 is not triggered.

[0031] In FIG. 1b the user, with his hands roughly at hip height, in thesequence of his movements reaches the hitting phase in which the firsttype of lever motion is superimposed by a second type during which theclub 18 is moved around the wrists of the user. The centrifugal motiontriggers the monitoring means 20 which is now tensioned tautly betweenthe upper arm of the user and the club 18. If the amount of force whichengages the monitoring mean 20 exceeds the magnetic force whichobstructs loosening of the component parts 22, 24, as for example in thetransition from the position which is shown in FIG. 1a into the positionwhich is shown in FIG. 1b, the component parts 22, 24 are separated fromone another in a clearly audible manner. FIG. 1c shows the user still inthe hitting phase of the sequence of movements with the now separatedcomponent parts of the monitoring means 20 which is attached to the club18. Furthermore, FIGS. 1b and 1 c illustrate that separation of thecomponent parts 22, 24 takes place in the visual field of the user; hisexercise of monitoring is improved in addition using this opticalsignal.

[0032] After hitting the ball in the end phase of the sequence ofmovements, the club 18 is swung forward first in front of the body ofthe user and then, as shown in FIG. 1d, is guided on the left side tobehind the body. By mobilization of the reduction of the centrifugalforce, the component parts 22, 24 which are joined to one another duringthe entire sequence of movements regardless of their relative positionto one another by means of a connecting means 26 in the form of anelastic, extended connecting element, especially an elastic cord 74, areagain caused to approach one another. By the plastic piece 108 with theconical end piece 110 fitting into the recess 112, the guide means 113provides for the two component parts 22, 24 being brought together againsuch that in their initial position they are located along a commonlengthwise axis. After the component parts 22, 24 are brought visuallyand audibly together, the device 10 is thus immediately available againfor execution of the sequence of movements.

[0033] The above described sequence of movements is of a purely modelnature for a more detailed explanation of the invention. Depending onthe individual circumstances, it is also possible to deviate from thismodel without adversely affecting the functionality of the device asclaimed in the invention.

1. Device (10) for training a sequence of movements for ball-hittingimplements (18), especially golf clubs or baseball bats, which allowsmonitoring of maintenance of the correct sequence of movements with theimplement (18) by a monitoring means (20) which acts between theimplement (18) and the user, and the implement can be fixed on the upperarm (16) of the user and on the ball-hitting implement (18),characterized in that the monitoring means has at least two componentparts (22, 24) which can be detached from one another and which interactwith one another by a force means (73) such that at least at the startand end of the sequence of movements the detachment of the componentparts (22, 24) is obstructed or their joining takes place in anaccelerated manner.
 2. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe monitoring means (20) transmits at least one acoustic and/or opticalsignal to the user when the sequence of movements of the ball-hittingimplement (18) is being monitored, and the sequence of movements can bedivided at least into an initial phase, a hitting phase and an endphase.
 3. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein themonitoring means (20) indicates the start and end of the hitting phaseof the sequence of movements by an acoustic signal and enablesmonitoring by means of the optical signal during the sequence ofmovements.
 4. The device (10) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3,wherein the force which is applied by the force means (73) tries topermanently keep the component parts (22, 24) against one another andwherein the size of the force can be preset by way of an adjustmentmeans (120).
 5. The device (10) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4,wherein the force means (73) assigned to each component part (22, 24) inat least one component part (24) has a magnet (106).
 6. The device (10)as claimed in claim 5, wherein to adjust the magnetic force by way ofthe adjustment means (120) the distance between the component parts (22,24) can be changed.
 7. The device (10) as claimed in one of claims 1 to6, wherein the component parts (22, 24) in each of their relativepositions to one another are joined to one another by way of aconnecting means (26) which as part of the force means (73) applies areset force to the component parts (22, 24).
 8. The device (10) asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the component parts (22, 24) are guided in adefined manner to one another by a guide means (113) at least for someof the relative positions which can be assumed.